Update any space easily with these designer tips — and fresh products from New England companies. No contractor required.

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“Paint is the tried and true transformative tool,” says O’Brien. “For really dramatic changes in intimate spaces, try a deep tone with a high sheen level. Ceilings and floors are often overlooked as paint opportunities as well. A few coats of high-gloss enamel can bring new life to wood floors.”

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“Occasional furniture — a wooden chair, side table, or bench — in a bright color is a great way to introduce an unexpected jolt of energy,” says Kevin O’Brien of OBrien Design Group, based in Boston and Providence.

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Striking wall art has the power to invigorate an interior, taking it from dull to dynamic,” says kelly Taylor of Kelly Taylor Interior Design in Providence. “The key to adding art is to create layered focal points and varied visual stimulation. As your eye moves through a series of rooms or walls, mix up the media. Black-and-white photographs can give way to subtle watercolors until the eye reaches one large, commanding textural piece.”

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Changing the shade on an existing lamp can completely revamp the look, O’Brien says. “Modern fabrics, trims, or a painted finish can update even a traditional lamp base. I like a shade painted a warm or bright color on the inside for a subtle hint of a bold color, or with silver leaf on the inside for a really sparkling dramatic effect.”

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“Light colors on the floor can make a room feel more spacious, make furniture feel lighter, and help reflect light back up,” O’Brien says. “But people are often afraid of dirt. Try a washable indoor-outdoor rug like a Magdalena York striped rug — it has a beautiful flat-weave construction and it’s impossible to stain.”

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“A bold rug added to a neutral palette can redefine the entire room,” says Taylor. “It doesn’t have to be large or extend under your existing furniture. If you have a simple sisal already, add a colorful graphic 5-by-8 rug on top.”

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